On boosting the tourism sector through the development of the luxury market What are the main strategies for growth in the luxury tourism segment? PRUET: If you look at the total market size, Thailand recorded an increase in tourism arrivals of over 6% between 2016 and 2017, reaching around 33-34m visitors. Internationally, however, the top markets in terms of spending are in the Middle East…
Christened 'THINC INNOVATE', the conference aims to truly create a differentiation and establish itself as a must-attend hospitality event in the region. This first-of-its-kind hotel investment conference aims to create a true knowledge-sharing platform that will offer participants a unique and enriching experience. The conference will bring together prominent leaders from the hospitality industry…
With winter creeping into the northern hemisphere and many of our readers dreaming of taking a vacation in warmer climes, it is a good time to consider whether China’s holiday trends are powerful enough to affect international economies. Here in Asia, there is no doubt that China’s influence is being felt across the region in a variety of profound ways, from the development of critical infrastructure…
Tourism remains one of the primary drivers of economic growth in Thailand. While manufacturing and exports are sluggish and consumer demand weak, visitor numbers were up in 2016 and are expected to hit new records in 2017. After a slight dip in 2014, the upward trend seems to have been re-established. Looking ahead, tourism will remain an important part of the Thai economy and is expected to…
Success has come at a price for Thailand’s tourism industry. With total visitor numbers increasing very rapidly and for many years, infrastructure is under strain. According to the World Bank, bottlenecks are starting to develop in places such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket. The situation at the country’s airports is particularly challenging. Airports of Thailand told local media in…
China is essential to the tourism sector in Thailand, as the country provides the most visitors and the highest growth rates in terms of tourist numbers. At a time of concerns over arrivals from other countries and regions due to political and economic issues, China looks set to remain a solid contributor, despite drops in some months in 2016. Its sheer size, proximity to Thailand and the…
Interview: Leanne Harwood What impact has Thailand’s strong rebound in tourist arrivals had on the nation’s hospitality sector, and what is expected for the future? LEANNE HARWOOD: Strong numbers in tourist arrivals in 2016 and recent years have had a positive impact on the hospitality sector, and this is reflected in key metrics. In Bangkok alone, the hotels industry has seen an increase in…
Interview: Weerasak Kowsurat How has significant growth in tourism contributed to the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) segment in Thailand? WEERASAK KOWSURAT: Thailand enjoyed a significant boost in tourist arrivals over 2016, and the MICE industry made a significant contribution to this tourism growth. MICE travellers spent an average of 3.5 times more than the average leisure…
Medical tourism is an important component of the tourism industry and a significant economic contributor. It has fuelled growth and has done so in a highly efficient manner, generating more income per visitor than the average. As Thailand continues its shift towards high-quality tourism offerings, health care-related development will remain a focus. However, the subsector is at a crossroads.…
Thailand has benefitted from decades of rapid industrial development to become an upper middle-income economy, with GDP growth averaging more than 7% from the 1950s to the 1990s. Growth slowed in 2014, although political stability and solid macroeconomic fundamentals saw the country’s economic recovery continue in 2016, as GDP growth rose to a three-year high and export receipts increased. Manuf
